Bad news for Slack users, since it seems that your private messages are not really private. All your data seems to be used secretly by the company.
Slack confirmed that it trains certain AI functions like search, autocomplete, and emoji suggestions using data from its customers’ messages, files, and content. The revelation that Slack customers are allowed to use this data by default sparked backlash from users, who questioned privacy and consent.
The business messaging platform revealed the practice after a Slack user flagged one of the company’s AI model training policies on social media. Corey Quinn, an executive at Duckbill Group, a cloud billing company, called out Slack, saying: “ WHAT do you do with DMs, messages, files, etc.? users ? “. In response, Slack acknowledged that it leverages customer data to improve its machine learning models that power in-app tools and features. However, she stated that this data is not used to train its paid generative AI offerings like ChatGPT’s rivals.
Also read – Microsoft Teams, Slack: when the proliferation of tools harms work productivity
Slack spies on all your messages on its platform
According to Slack’s AI guidelines, the process of training non-generative models such as autocomplete on user content is allowed unless companies or workspace administrators do not specifically object to this upon request. But by defaultall customer data may be used for this purpose without additional user consent.
The lack of a more accessible opt-out option for individual Slack users has drawn criticism. Many believe that the messaging platform should have made the data sharing option the default, not the opt-out option.
Slack maintains that its model training processes are designed to prevent any potential memorization or duplication of customer data. But the perceived lack of transparency and consent has undermined the trust of some users.
Slack is far from the first technology platform to implement an opt-out AI data policy. Last year, website host Squarespace drew criticism for allowing AI to crawl its customers’ websites by default. Users had to dig into settings to turn it off.